Evaluation of the potential in vitro effects of propolis and honey on wound healing in human dermal fibroblast cells

Abstract

Propolis and honey are two apiculture products with various pharmacological and biological properties that have been recognized since ancient times. The present investigation was an in vitro analysis of the impacts of individual and concomitant application of Iranian propolis and honey on the process of wound healing. The total phenolic contents of ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) and honey were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu method. Cultured HDF cells were exposed to different concentrations of EEP, honey, and mixture of both substances, and then the percentage of wound closure and rate of cell migration were examined. Simultaneously, the viability of HDF cells exposed to the EEP and/or honey was assessed. In addition, the effects of both substances on the proliferation of the cultured HDF cells were investigated. The value of total phenolic contents of EEP was 111.388 ± 0.088 and for honey was 1.848±0.79 mg GAE/g. The optimum concentration of EEP and honey for wound healing, rate of cell migration, cell viability, and proliferation assays were observed at 100 µg/ml and 200 µg/ml. Similarly, the optimum concentrations of the mixture in all the tests were seen at 100 µg/ml and 200 µg/ml. The Iranian propolis and honey samples efficiently affected migration, proliferation, and viability of HDF cells in a dose-dependent manner, however, no synergistic effects of EEP and honey were observed.